Cool sites for Natural Cycles:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/time/moon/phases.html

http://web.dps.k12.va.us/ParkAve/earth.htm

http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moonphase/

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/

Words to Know

Natural Cycles

tides - the rise and fall of the ocean waters caused by the gravitational pull of the moon

phases of the moon - when the moon apears to have different shapes because of different amounts of the sun's light reflect off the moon throughout the lunar cycle

craters - pits or hollow areas on the surface of the Moon

satelite - anything that orbits another larger object in space, the moon is a satelite of the earth

cycle - a repeated sequence of events

sequence - the order in which things happen

rotation - the motion of turning on an axis; spin; causes day and night

revolve- the movement of the planets around the sun; to move in a circular fashion; causes the seasons to occur each year

new moon - the moon is dark

full moon - the moon is bright

half moon - we see half of a circle that is bright

tides - the rise and fall of the ocean waters caused by the gravitational pull of the moon

Ecosystems

water-related environment - environments that contain water such as ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, and marshlands

dry-land environment - environments on dry land such as deserts, grasslands, rain forests, and forests

forest - dense growth of trees and underbrush covering a large area

environment - all of the factors infuencing the life and activites of people, plants, and animals

desert - hot, dry place with very little rain

oceans - large body of salt water that covers 3/4 of the earth's surface

grassland - land on which grass is the main vegetation

Adaptations

behavioral adaptation - behaviors that allow animals to respond to life needs such as hibernation and migration

camouflage - an animal's skin or fur coloring that allows for concealment by appearing to be part of the natural surroundings

hibernate - to be orbecome inactive or dormant (usually in the winter)

migrate - to travel, usually periodically, from one region or climate to another for feeding or reproduction

Matter

matter- anything that has mass and takes up space

object - material that may be perceived by the senses

particle - a relatively small or the smallest amount of something

material - element, constituent, or substance of which something is composed or can be made

mass - the amount of matter in an object; weight - gravity

volume - the amount of space that an object takes up

physical property - the physical characteristics of matter including size, color, texture, and luster

Simple Machines

machine - an assemblage of parts that can transmit force, motion, and energy

pulley - a wheel that has a rope wrapped around it; it is used to help lift heavy objects

inclined plane - a flat surface that is raised so that one end is higher than the other; an inclined plane helps to move heavy objects up or down

lever - a stiff bar that moves about a fixed point (the fulcrum) which is used to push, pull, or lift things